SCAIL Assessments for Agriculture

Planning applications for new livestock housing, manure stores and slurry lagoons usually require an accompanying Simple Calculation of Atmospheric Impact Limits (SCAIL) Assessment for agriculture. This is undertaken in order to demonstrate acceptable impacts associated with ammonia emissions on the natural environment. You can rely on Redmore Environmental’s specialist experience in undertaking SCAIL Assessments to support your agricultural development throughout the planning process.

What are SCAIL Assessments for Agriculture?

A SCAIL Assessment is a screening tool  used to quantify ammonia concentrations, nitrogen and acid deposition at ecological designations. These may include Special Areas of Conservation, Sites of Special Scientific Interest and Special Areas of Conservation, as well as Local Wildlife Sites and Ancient Woodland. The results allow regulatory authorities to determine if further consideration of ammonia impacts needs to be taken to satisfy the requirements of the Habitats Regulations.

SCAIL Assessment Services

Redmore Environmental specialises in providing SCAIL Assessments for agriculture. These services include:

• Identification of emission sources associated with a new agricultural development.
• Completion of the SCAIL-agriculture tool to screen potential ammonia impacts on sensitive habitats or odour/particulate matter impacts on human receptors.
• Detailed interpretation of the SCAIL results to identify any issues and any requirement for further assessment.
• Reporting of results in a Technical Report in a format suitable for review by the relevant regulator.

Should the results of a SCAIL Assessment indicate further consideration of ammonia impacts is needed, then you may require a specialist Ecological Air Quality Assessment to inform the Habitats Regulations Assessment for your project. Redmore Environmental is able to complete all elements of any additional analysis to help you secure planning permission.

If you need a SCAIL Assessment to support your planning application or help with addressing a response from a regulator following submission of a SCAIL Assessment, then please get in touch with one of our specialist Air Quality Consultants today to discuss the requirements for your project further.

Why undertake SCAIL Assessments for Agriculture?

Ammonia emissions occur across agricultural a number of stages and activities. These are principally:

• Housing (sheds, stables and other buildings).
• Storing (lagoons, slurry towers, stockpiles and manure heaps).
• Spreading (both slurry and manure).

Ammonia can impact on the environment by damaging sensitive habitats and reduce biodiversity through acidification and eutrophication. Additionally, ammonia reacts with other species to form particulates when released into the atmosphere. These are harmful to human health. With UK ammonia emission remaining high, there is an increased focus on reducing agricultural ammonia emissions in the UK Government’s 2019 Clean Air Strategy. As a result, ammonia can act as a significant constraint to development if not properly assessed or appropriately mitigated. A SCAIL Assessment undertaken by a specialist Air Quality Consultant can therefore prevent delays to planning approval.

Natural England has also recently published new guidance ‘Air Pollution and Development: Advice for Local Authorities’. This provides updated advice on assessing air pollutant emissions from developments and their potential impacts on protected sites, including Sites of Special Scientific Interest and habitat sites (Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas and Ramsar sites), as part of Ecological Air Quality Assessments and Ammonia Assessments, as well as SCAIL Assessments.

The guidance establishes clear expectations for both developers and regulators. It is intended to be followed by consultants when preparing and supporting planning applications and by Local Planning Authorities when determining those applications. Read our news story on the guidance here for more information.

Ammonia Experts

Redmore Environmental has provided SCAIL Assessments to support a wide range of agricultural schemes. These have resolved challenging issues for developers of both small scale and intensive farms. Successfully undertaken projects include:

• Birch Farm, Woolsery – SCAIL Assessment in support of a proposed livestock shed to house cattle, pigs, sows, ewes and chickens alongside an enclosed manure shed to store animal wastes. A consultation response prepared by Natural England in response to the planning application for the scheme indicated the potential for adverse effects at ecological designations as result of atmospheric emissions from the development. An assessment was therefore undertaken to predict ammonia impacts at sensitive locations. The results indicated an acceptable level of emissions from the scheme.
• Woodlands Lane, Calf Heath – SCAIL Assessment in support of a proposed stable block to over winter horses. A consultation response prepared by the Ecologist at South Staffordshire Council indicated potential for adverse effects at Cannock Chase Special Area of Conservation. This was due to atmospheric emissions from the development both alone and in-combination with other plans and projects. A search of the Council’s planning system was undertaken and ammonia contributions from other developments in the locality were combined with the proposals. Resultant impacts were below the relevant threshold at Cannock Chase Special Area of Conservation. Effects were therefore not considered to be significant.
• Scale House Farm, Lancaster – SCAIL Assessment in support of a new cattle shed in order to provide additional space for the existing herd and improve welfare conditions. Lancaster City Council required the assessment to be undertaken in order to quantify existing air quality conditions at ecological designations, the potential pollution arising from the scheme and how this will be mitigated. The results indicated a betterment to ammonia and nitrogen and acid deposition levels at receptors. This was due to a reduction in the number of cattle reared on slatted housing. A Habitats Regulations Assessment (Air Quality) for the project was also undertaken to demonstrate the proposals will not cause adverse effects on sensitive features and habitats.

Regional Ammonia Services

Further details on our regional Ammonia Assessment services are provided on the following pages:

• Ammonia Assessments in England.
• Ammonia Assessments in Northern Ireland.
• Ammonia Assessments in Scotland.
• Ammonia Assessments in Wales.

Contact Us

Get in touch with one of our specialist Air Quality Consultants today to find out more about how we can help you overcome any ammonia related issues you may be facing. Alternatively, visit our case studies to review recently completed projects or ammonia related news.